Lace-fastener for shoes.



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WILLIAM L. MYERS, OF INDUSTRY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES T.A ROBERTSON, OF SAME PLACE.

LACE-FASTENER FOR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,965, dated April 2, 1901.

Application filed OOtObel 30. 1899. Serial No. 735,282. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ind usrry, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Lace-Fastener for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe-lace fasteners for boots and shoes, and has for its object to provide an eflicient,inexpensive,and easilyapplied lace-fastener forirmly and positively securing the lace extremities.

The invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe, showing the improved devices applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lace-fastener on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the fastener, showing the securing-staple before upsetting. Fig. et is a similar section showing the fastener secured in position and the lace therearound.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several Views.

The fastener comprises a button or head 6 with inwardly-sloping curved sides 7 and a recess S, opening through the bottom orinner side next to the support or shoe-fly. Extending through the center of the body of the button or head are a pair of parallel openings 9, which" communicate with the recess S, the outer portion of the web l0 between said openings being counter-sunk to form a seat 1l for the head of a staple l2, used in securing the said button or head. After the staple l2 is inserted through the button or head the extremities of the legs are upset against the under side of the iiy and directed in reverse directions, the head of the staple sinking into the seat ll, and owing to spaced legs passing through the openings 9 the device is prevented from turning and provides an effective means of securement. The button or head is left sufficiently loose to permit the windings of the lace therearound to obtain a clamping result, the recess 8 serving to provide a biting edge 13, between which and the fly the lace is held without tying. The lace is first drawn up byits opposite extremities to close the fly, and said extremities are then passed around the ankle and again brought to the front and crossed over the opposite buttons or heads and wound around the latter about once and a half and the ends allowed to loosely hang down.

The buttons or heads will be formed of metal of a character best adapted for the purpose, and hy having the sides 7 sloping inwardly the lace-windings are guided under the device and become properly disposed in an automatic manner.

Changes in 1the form, proportions, and minor details of construction can be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a shoe-lace fastener, the combination of a button or head with an outer flat face and a rounded peripheral outer portion merging directly into an inwardly-reduced curved beveled side portion continued regularly over the back into the spherical contour of the latter, the said head or button having a recess opening from the center of and extending almost completely through the front to produce an intermediate front web having front and rear parallel sides and a pair of parallel openings communicating with the said recess, the outer portion of the web in direct alinement between the openings being recessed to form a seat, and a staple having parallel legs in planes at right angles to 'the connecting-head of the same, the head of staple being firmly held in the said seat and the legs passed through the openings in the web and upset in the material to which the fastener is applied to hold the rear spherical recessed portion of the head close to said material, the recess of the head being greater in diameter than the distance the legs of the staple are apart to leave space for the interposition of the windings of the lace between the recessed portion of the head and the material to which the device isattached, the lace being directed to the rear of the head by the beveled curved edge.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM L. MYERS.

Witnesses:

A. L. I-IALLIDAY, J. W. FLACK.

IOO 

